GERMANY (UEFA Group 4 winner)

Population: 82 million

Capital: Berlin

Team nickname: National Mannschaft ("National team")

Best World Cup performance: 1st place (1954, 1974, 1990 - as West Germany)

Coach: Joachim Low (GER)

Guys to watch: Miroslav Klose, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil

Why cheer for them: They're always ferociously competitive.

Why boo them: They're Germans. And they're in the Socceroos' group.

TAB Sportsbet odds to win: $15.00

AUSTRALIA (AFC Group A winner)

Population: 22 million

Capital: Canberra

Team nickname: Socceroos

Best World Cup finish: Second round (2006)

Coach: Pim Verbeek (NED)

Guys to watch: Tim Cahill, Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer

Why cheer for them: They're OUR guys. And they seem like better blokes than our cricketers.

Why boo them: You can't, surely.

TAB Sportsbet odds: $67.00

SERBIA (UEFA Group 7 winner)

Population: 7.5 million

Capital: Belgrade

Team nickname: Beli Orlovi ("White Eagles")

Coach: Radomir Antic (SRB)

Best World Cup finish: 4th place (1962 - as Yugoslavia)

Guys to watch: Nemanja Vidic, Dejan Stankovic, Milan Jovanovic

Why cheer for them: Superb skills, emblematic of European football.

Why boo them: They're in the Socceroos' group. Or if you're Croatian.

TAB Sportsbet odds: $51.00

GHANA (CAF Group D winner)

Population: 24 million

Capital: Accra

Team nickname: Black Stars

Best World Cup finish: Second round (2006)

Coach: Milovan Rajevac (SRB)

Guys to watch: Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, Stephen Appiah

Why cheer for them: If one African team can go all the way, it might be Ghana.

Why boo them: They're in the Socceroos' group.

TAB Sportsbet odds: $51.00

Group D Schedule (all times AEST)

June 14, midnight: Serbia v Ghana (Tshwane/Pretoria)

June 14, 4:30 am: Germany v Australia (Durban)

June 18, 9:30 pm: Germany v Serbia (Nelson Mandela Bay)

June 20, midnight: Ghana v Australia (Rustenburg)

June 24, 4:30 am: Ghana v Germany (Johannesburg)

June 24, 4:30 am: Australia v Serbia (Nelspruit)